Line connector device



I y8, 1945- J. LQYONKERS 2,375,270

I LINE CONNECTOR DEVICE I Filed Jan. 9, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l five/72a)": t]0%2z' lzzfers .3

y 1945- J. L. YONKERS ,375,270

LINE CONNECTOR DEVICE Filed Jan. 9. 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- 'lummi mm 1w!w. III! H m .M. fill, ]l

' immy Patented May 8, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. 2,375,270 LINE;GONNECTQR. DEV/ICE John nvonkers, Evanston, 111. Application January 9,19.42,. Serial No. 426,164: I 2 Claims. Lorai -243) This inventionrelates. to: a connector and also to a tool for operating thereon: and.has particular reference to a tap connector for use on transmission.line wire or the like. As: is: well known, highv tension transmissionline Wire is generally of hard drawn copper or aluminum on a steelcoreand frequently requires. a tap line connection to be. made or takendown. In order to. establish a satisfactory connection, it isimportantthat no permanent damage or deformation to the line wireresults. Furthermore, in making or break ing such tap: connection itis'frequentlyz-necessary to operate while the lineis hot. By virtue of'the invention described herein,. asimpl and effective connector isprovided and simLpIe-and eirective means are provided. for applying orremoving: theconnector to and from the transmission line wire with aminimum of effort and danger. v

" For a further understanding of the invention reference is made to thedrawings wherein:

Figure 1 shows a tool in perspective; Fig; 2- shows the tool operatingon a connector, certain parts: beinginsection;

- Fig. 3 is an exploded view of a connector; I

Fig. l isa bottom view of a connector; I Fig. 5 shows a top view on line5-5- of Fig. 6

of a modified tool operatingon a connector;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 66 of Fig'. 5; Fig. 7 is a bottom view ofthe modified tool; Fig. 8 is a section on 8-8 of Fig. 7; and Fig. 9 is asection on 99 of Fig. 8. Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, aline I0 is to have a tap ll connected thereto. The tap is maintained'onthe line by the connector shown in exploded form in Fig. 3. Thisconnector consists of a split bolt having a rounded head 13 and arms l4and I5. Arms, l4 and I5 are threaded as a unit to form a split bolthaving a space It between the arms. Cooperating with split bolt 12 is anut I8 consisting of a nut proper l9 carrying a clamping head 20.Clamping head 2|] has a pair of slots 2| and 22 through which bolt armsl4 and I5 may pass. The nut and clamping head are relatively rotatablearound the nut axis. The head may be supported on the nut in anysuitable manner and as shown is carried by a strap 23, which is secured,as by riveting, to central portion 24 of clamping head and which extendsdown along the inside of the nut to the remote end 26 thereof. The strapends are then flared out at 21 to lock the nut and head together againstseparation. Strap 23 should be narrow enough to lie within space 16 ofthe split bolt. The clamping head is relatively massive and: hassufficient body and .size. a well as shapejtobe grippedby a wrench. Theclampin-ghead is made of a good conductor like copper, brass or bronzeand-preferably the nut and retainingstrap 23 are also of good conductingmaterial. When installed, the line'and tap'wires I are clamped: betweenclam-ping head'20 and bolt head t3.

A special tool may be provided so-that the clamp may be installedor-removed easily. shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this: tool has a primarywrench 3.0 having a handle portion 31 and 'jaws 32 and 33. Jaws 32 and33mayhave any-suitalrvle shape and are adapted to engage clamping head20.

The clamping head is shown here as square; Anyothershape may be used.Preferablywrench jaws 32and'33 have ,a thickness of theorder of that ofclampin head 20' and i preferabljy somewhat thinner; j

Wrench: handle 30 carries at the free end there of a handle 35. The twoare hinged together at 36 and a spring 3'! may be providedfor normallyurging wrench 30- against handle 35. Handle 35 has a rounded aperturedend 39 within which is rotatably mounted a socket wrench 41!. Therotatable mounting may be secured-in any desired manner. Thus socket,wrench "4?! has, a circum ferential outer groove 4"] within which a.split ring 4 2 may be disposed. Split ring, #2- may be secured to end 39byscrews'43. I

' Socket wrench 48' is adapted to engage'nut l9. A simple means forturning socketv wrench 40 is provided. Thus socket wrench 40 may have abody long enough to extend below nut l9 (as seen in Fig. 2) and isprovided with diametrically dis posed apertures 45. A fork 46 carriespins 41 at the ends thereof and these pins extend into apertures 45. Aknurled handle 50 on fork 46 completes the construction.

To use the tool, primary wrench 30 is moved to engage clamp head 20.Socket wrench 40 is turned so that it may engage nut l9 and permithandle 35 to come up parallel to handle 30. Then socket wrench 40 may beoperated by knurled handle 50 to tighten or loosen clamp head 20. It isclear that all the forces used on the entire clamp are taken up byhandles 30 and 50. No turning force on line wire I0 is applied. Theentire tool is always on the same side of line It. The operation is sosimple and convenient that a lineman can work with gloves. The handlesmay be made of insulating-material if desired.

In this form of the invention, the relative sizes equal to, larger orsmaller than nut IS. The wrench size referred to is the distance betweenoppositely gripped surfaces and has no reference to square, hexagonal orother wrenches. However, by having nut 19 so shaped that parts project;beyondclamping head 20, as by having clamping head square and nut 19hexagonal for the same size wrench, jaws 32 and 33 are locked inposition as shown in Fig. 2. At the same time, socket wrench 40 ismaintained in positionby; the spring hinge action. Z i

It is clear that this form of tool may be used with ease. The twohandles remain close together on the same side of the Wire. The tool islocked into position so that no delicacy in manipulation is necessary aswould be the case with several wrenches. This is an importantconsideration when working in dangerous or'barely' accessible locations.

Referring now to Figs. 5 fied tool is shown. The clamp remainssubstantially' the same. In this form primary wrench 130 has a roundedend l3! witha nut engaging aperture I32 of any suitable shape. Thisaperture normally engages clamp head 20. Rotatably mounted on one sideof end I3 is a socket wrench I40. Socketwrench M0 may be mounted in anysuitable manner. Thus socket wrench I48 may have an outwardly extendingperipheral flange Ml engaged by an annular Z I42 secured to end I3 I. Inthis form, it is necessary thatclamp head 20. be as largeor larger thannut I9 so that primary wrench opening I32 may clear nut l9.

7 7 Socket wrench I40 preferably has'an interior shoulder l 43 definingthe end of the socket wrench part and thus limiting movement of thesocket wrenchmp (as seen in Fig. 6) toward the top of the clamp. Boththe clamp andnut are proportioned so that in the top position of. thetool, as seen in Ffig. 6, shoulder I43 engages the bottom of the nut. Inthe event thatnut I9 is smaller than clamp'head'ill, then it is clearthat socket wrench I40 will be stopp d by the bottom of clamp head. 1

For turning socket wrench MIL-a handle I50 having fork tines HI and 152is provided. Pins I53Qcarried by the tines engage in aperture I54 in thebottom part of socket wrench I40.

It is clear that the tools. are simple, easy to operate and highlyefficient.. The tools are completeinthemselves and by controlling thehanto 9 inclusive, a modiof the invention may be made of thinnermaterial than has been the practice without sacrificing strength sinceeven'copper has substantial tensile strength.

What is claimed is: 1.' A connector for joining a tap line to atransmission line comprising a bolt having a shank, a slot extendingfrom one end of a shank and terminating at the head to form a bight forreceiving wires to be joined, a flat washer on said shank having a webportion in the slot of said shank, said washer having a tool engageableperipheral surface, and a nut on said shank for moving the fiat washertoward the bight of the bolt, whereby when a high tension line and awire are placed between the might of the bolt and'the web of the washera lineman may; from that side of the connector away from thetransmission line, hold the bolt from rotation by holding the washerwhileat the same time drawing up the nut.

- 2. A connector comprising a bolt having a shank, a slot extending fromone end of a shank and terminating at the head to form a bight forreceiving Wires to be joined, a clamping member is moved against them,'alineman may, from a single side of the wires hold the bolt from rotationby holding the peripheral surface of the clamping member while at thesame time drawing up on the nut.

p JOHN L. YONKERS.

